Accommodating differences: more than good words

Abstract

This interactive presentation tells of the socio-political processes around the creation of a living museum on Te Upoko o Mata'oho : The Mangere Mountain Education Centre. Te Upoko o Mata'oho is one of the best preserved of Auckland's many volcanoes. This area was once a highly cultivated and strategically developed pa (fortified village) for local Maori. The local Maori people (iwi), called Waiohua, and archaeologists and geologists suggest that Te Upoko o Mata'oho and its surrounds was once home to around 2,000 people, making it one of the largest pre-colonial Polynesian settlements in the world. The purpose of the centre was to enable members of the local tribal group, or iwi, to tell their own stories about work, being and colonisation. It was to reflect their ongoing struggle to be able to live and work as recognised as iwi, to talk and show, in a living form, how their ancestors grew crops, lived and sustained family relationships, whanaungatanga. The story of the living museum shows how their important beliefs, their tikanga, and their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi create tensions for local government policy and the civic development of Auckland. The particular focus of this presentation is unraveling the competing claims over a heritage cottage that had been home for one of the earlier kings Tawhiao Tewherowhero. The cottage – which was little more than a two roomed small shack - had been designated an historical artifact by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. However the cottage was on private property and being used as a woodshed. The local iwi wanted to move the cottage to the Education Centre to form the centre piece of an historical panorama of photos and posters showing the struggle of Waiohua and the Kingitanga Movement and their claim for recognition. Part of the planning was to demonstrate The local city council was in support however what they needed was a definite plan with costs and timeframe. What they could not understand was that decision-making took time The presentation will document the to and fro-ing of the decision-making as various voices sought for their view to be heard.